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Title: Principal

Location: San Francisco, US West

Firm Rating:

Firm Information:

Type: Large Private VC

FIRM DESCRIPTION: CMEA Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on life sciences, high technology, and energy & materials investments. CMEA believes that the most successful venture backed companies are science focused with experienced teams intent on winning. As a result, CMEA's portfolio companies typically have cutting edge and highly differentiated technology at their core, with founding teams of the highest caliber. CMEA invests in both early and late stage ventures, and has a strong network of corporate, investment, and entrepreneurial relationships that it leverages on behalf of its portfolio companies. The firm currently manages six funds representing investments in excess of $770 million. CMEA has been an early stage investor in many leading Silicon Valley high technology companies, including Flextronics (FLEX), Magma (LAVA), Maxygen (MAXY), Monogram Biosciences (MGRM), Silicon Spice (BRCM), Symyx (SMMX), and Syrrx (purchased by Takeda.) CMEA Ventures was founded in 1989 and maintains offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park. CMEA's partners and associates have extensive science, engineering, and operational backgrounds that particularly suit CMEA's focus on technology and teams --- an effective differentiator for entrepreneurs and venture investment partners who dare to change the world, one great company at a time.

For years CMEA has been a great resource and firm. Sumeet Jain is a strong partner and honest. My experience with Sumeet has been as a very early-stage founder, in fact we crossed paths before I even had a prototype. His openness to give advice and really listening to a vision has been surprising. Our start-up still isn't big enough to work with CMEA but I would love the opportunity to have a formal relationship with them.

Posted by
readyfireaim
on 2009-08-15

PUBLIC:

Meeting started late and one guy showed up just before the end. Made for a somewhat all-over-the-place Q&A as everyone wasn't quite on the same page. No one totally zoned out, which I take to be a good thing. For the most part they asked reasonable questions and expressed decent concerns. The rushed nature of the meeting showed itself when they asked (what I consider to be) a few uninformed questions, however.

Posted by
Anonymous
on 2007-11-11

PUBLIC:

Terrific venture fund. They understand the importance of people and relationships, invest for the long-term and look out for the management and employees. Work very hard on behalf of their companies and are committed to building each business into a great company. They have great experience and contacts in the materials, energy and cleantech space. I would definitely work with them again.

Posted by
ceobythebay
on 2007-09-24

PUBLIC:

Jim Hornthal is a Venture Partner at CMEA and is a talented, connected and high-octane guy. CMEA did not invest in my company but Jim is involved. He always says it as he sees it, respects managers, follows up on everything he says he will and works his rolodex as much as anyone I've ever met on the behalf of others. You'd be fortunate to get Jim involved in your company in any way.